Developer outlines 103‑lot planned development on 30‑acre Clayton site; council raises drainage, lot‑width concerns

Jason Lu, a developer with Shanghai Enterprises, and civil engineers from American StructurePoint presented a preliminary plan development for a roughly 30‑acre tract in Clayton that would create 103 single‑family lots and a central open space.

The proposal would rezone the property to a planned development district, include a multiuse path along Westbrook Road, and place a stormwater basin in the southeast corner of the site. Ben, of American StructurePoint’s civil engineering team, said the plan shows 52‑foot‑wide lots with six‑foot side setbacks and a 20‑foot front setback proposed by the developer: "we're showing them at, 52 feet wide, with 6 yard side setbacks. I think that's the major deviation from the RSD." He also described a multiuse path and a basin sized for the development and said the traffic study "has been reviewed and accepted, by the by the city staff and, your consultant. So, showing no improvements are are warranted, from this development."

City staff framed the meeting as an opportunity for feedback rather than a final submission; Ellen, a city planning staff member, said she would "walk through where the property is, what the current zoning is, and what the design standards are there." The applicants confirmed they are seeking a PDD so standards can be negotiated rather than pursuing straight RSD zoning.

Council members and nearby residents focused questions on topography, drainage, and the proposed lot sizes. The engineering team said a geotechnical investigation with about 20 borings has been completed and described roughly 20–30 feet of elevation change across the site. On runoff concerns from neighbors on Janice/Janus, the engineer said the site "will drain to the basin and then from there we'll be outletting, to there's a ditch" and that the design follows industry practice to size drainage for a 100‑year storm event.

Several council members and residents said narrower 52‑foot lots would be out of scale with adjacent neighborhoods. One councilmember said, "I would like to see fewer units and I I'd I'd love to see a greater, at least the 60 foot width, front." The development team and its attorney, Todd Earnsberger of the law firm Bridal Laboon, said the economics of building in the area make the higher yield important: "It makes it a little bit more difficult from a profitability standpoint…So the tipping point in that 88 versus 103 is really what gets us to the point of why we have to ask for that 52 foot, width as far as that goes."

The developer described anticipated home types and sales approach. Jason Lu said, "We're gonna build a 4, 5 different style of the house, but it will be pretty consistent characteristic. And, from from there, we we have, like, on-site, like, a bridal home so people can start, like, choose a model." The team said some plans include ranch (single‑story) models to support aging‑in‑place options.

Staff and the developer discussed potential public engagement and financing. City staff suggested the developer consider an informational open house and referenced Meadowbrook at Clayton as a possible meeting location. The applicant's attorney said a tax increment financing (TIF) or other public financing for on‑site improvements "will certainly be something we discuss with staff." No TIF or financing agreement was proposed or approved at the meeting.

No rezoning or entitlement vote was taken; the session was a workshop to gather council feedback. The council voted to close the workshop after the presentation.

What happens next: the developer may proceed to file a formal PDD application with the planning commission, at which point the council and the planning commission would set or amend PDD standards if the application moves forward.